Singer-songwriter Chelsea Jordan’s new music era is about healing, yearning, and being gentle with yourself.
Since her viral track “TORONTO” popped off in 2024, Chelsea’s met a few different versions of herself, and she’s treating them all with love and care. Her latest era, marked by a new EP, ‘better late than not at all’, is about healing and manifesting a gentle, soft energy with herself.
As Chelsea told us, “This EP is very heavily focussed on coming out of a breakup and treating yourself with grace through the process.” There are some emotional tracks, but also playful, upbeat ones too, that Chelsea says feel more like “oh, can’t we just live a little? Like for a second?”
Keep reading to find out what went down when we linked up with Chelsea to talk new music, emotional inspiration, and her vibe rn.
I know you have new music coming out soon. Can you tell us about the vibe of your next era?
“The vibe of this next era is a combination of soft, playful, confident, and really just learning to be gentle with myself. This EP is very heavily focussed on coming out of a breakup and treating yourself with grace through the process. I’ve learned a lot through this one and I feel like I’m always meeting different versions of myself and I am trying to treat each version with the kindness that she deserves.”
Your lyrics can be really emotional and real, which is partly how you resonate with your fans so much. Can you tell us about any new tracks that you hope speaks to people on a deeper level?
“I have this song called “i’ll remember you as well” that’s probably my saddest song on the project, which is about realising that you’re gonna have to remember the person for the rest of your life as opposed to being with them for the rest of your life. That song kind of breaks my heart every time I listen to it. I think going through a breakup, you think someone’s your person at first, and then you realise, like, they’re slowly becoming a stranger to you. And I think [“i’ll remember you as well”] is probably going to resonate with a lot of people.”
“Then there’s one song that’s actually really playful. It’s one of my favourite songs I’ve written. It’s called “if i’m lucky” and it’s basically about having a crush on the wrong person and allowing yourself the freedom to just explore it anyway because it’s fun. I have [another] song called “picky choosy”, which I’m also about to put out, and it kind of counters that. I feel like today everything’s taken so seriously, and this is a song where I’m like, ‘oh, can’t we just live a little? Like for a second?’ Like, I can see someone and it doesn’t have to turn into the rest of my life.”
Are all of the songs on the album about the same breakup or is it like your general experience?
“It’s about the same breakup. It’s a five-song EP, so some of them are playful, some of them are about me and then there’s, like, maybe two or three that are very much about my breakup in different contexts.”
In your experience, how much do you think social media is a help vs. a hindrance for emerging music artists today?
“I feel like it’s definitely both. I think there’s a lot of beauty in social media being this tool that gives an artist visibility; it gives an artist the power. [But] it also is incredibly difficult to have to constantly remind yourself that the numbers we’re seeing on social media and the engagement is not directly a reflection of the value of your art. I think that’s like the biggest disconnect with [social media]. I like to always say that if my song reaches one new person every day through a post, then I’ve achieved something great that day. And I think that’s something that a lot of small independent artists or developing artists need to remember. It’s like, every single time you post, someone new is hearing your song, and that alone is a gift.”
If you could link up with anyone in the music industry on a track, who would it be?
“I have three. Mark Ronson, because I’m, like, the biggest Amy Winehouse fan of all time, and that would be a dream come true to work with him. Justin Bieber, because I love everything he’s doing right now. I just love that he’s in his element and he doesn’t care what anyone thinks. [Also] he’s working with smaller artists, and I just love that he’s using his platform to help with that. And then Lola Young, she’s one of my favourite artists. She’s amazing.”
Were you a Belieber, then?
“I was not a Belieber! That’s the thing, I’m like new to the Justin Bieber wave. I always liked Justin Bieber, but I wasn’t like, ‘oh my God.’ And now I’m like, ‘oh my God!’ I think he’s incredible just because of how much he’s trying to change his life and go back to what he wants to do. I really respect how he’s moving through the industry right now as somebody who’s experienced all levels of it.”
Who is your biggest style inspiration rn?
“I feel like my style is constantly changing, but I’d have to say Lenny Kravitz. I’m having, like, a big flare-jean-and-mini-tee moment right now. And I feel like Lenny Kravitz is just the ultimate rock star inside and out, everything about him is just so cool.”
What brands or designers are you most drawn to right now?
“Acne Studios, because they have my favourite flared jeans at the moment. I just bought my second pair, like, two days ago. I love LOEWE, I think they have amazing accessories, especially glasses. And Adidas. I love Adidas, it’s one of the first brands that I worked with that gave me financial stability years ago, so they’re a brand that’s always going to have my heart.”
Loved your acting skills in the “level out” music video – it was so emotional! If you did go into acting, what kind of role would you love to play?
“So interesting that you bring this up because I have had the itch to act. Like I’ve had this calling now more than ever. I’ve never taken acting classes, like I really don’t know much about acting, but to start off, I can see myself playing roles that are actually really similar to me and my personality, my energy in the first place. I think it would help me get comfortable in such a foreign space. I’d like to just play a woman who’s confident and strong, who’s not seeking approval from anyone or permission, someone who’s deeply laid back, doesn’t really chase what’s not meant for her. I would love to play a musician, you know, like a struggling artist trying to make it. And I also think a period piece would be amazing.”
I know you’re joining Ruel for the final dates of his North American tour later this year. What’s your favourite thing about performing live?
“So, I’m still kind of new to performing live, but I think there’s something really special about it. It’s like one of the most affirming experiences. Before I start, I’m nervous to the point where I can’t wait to get it over with. That’s how uncomfortable the nerves are. But the minute my set is over, I just want to be right back out there doing it all over again. I feel like it’s the closest I’ll get to like the tangible feeling of knowing that this is exactly what I’m meant to do. The fear and the nerves are like my soul telling my body that we’re in the right place. I think that greatness lives on the other side of fear and being scared. It’s also really nice to see how the songs translate live, because it’s completely different when you’re working in a studio and you write a song and that sounds amazing, but when you play it live, it’s like, that’s how you know you have a great record.”
Is there anything you do now to deal with the nerves?
“Honestly? No. I feel like I need to be as alone as I can be, just with my band before or, like, my manager. My first show is New York, next Friday and I plan to not really see anyone, most of the day. Maybe my family, [and we can] all like, go for coffee or something. But having the calm before the storm is kind of how I go about it. And also some wine. I also don’t know if it makes it worse, but for me, I usually do have some wine before and it definitely warms up my body.”
What’s something you think music’s lacking right now?
“I think the music industry is lacking yearning. I want the real, like, Otis Redding type of yearning. I feel like a lot of it can feel performative [now] and obviously with TikTok and stuff, a lot of people are making music specifically to see if it’ll do well on TikTok. I just want some real 60s/70s yearning.”
Actually, talking about TikTok, I feel like I’ve spoken to emerging artists before who say there’s so much pressure to have that like eight seconds of a song that’s got viral capability. Do you feel like you’ve kind of come out of that pressure now or do you still feel it sometimes?
“I actually don’t know if I was ever in it. I feel like I’ve always been so aware of TikTok as a tool, but I never wanted to make music specifically for TikTok because it’s still very new. My favourite songs were written in the 60s, so they weren’t thinking ‘oh, is this going to, you know, blow up on TikTok’ or ‘if I have the eight seconds.’ Sometimes I’ll write something and I’ll be like, ‘oh, I could see this doing well on TikTok,’ but we never start with that as the foundation.”
If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?
“It would be to hug your family a little tighter and tell them you love them as much as you can while you’re under the same roof, ’cause I feel like at some point, you’ll be hyper aware that you’re only moving further and further from that point in your life. I was so ready to leave and go to college and just like start my life, but I’ll never get that back, and I wish that I could, you know, sit in that a little longer. I’ll never be a kid again. Like, I feel like everything is happening a lot at once in my life and I’ve never been such an adult. I’m like, ‘wow, it was so nice to be that little girl who just could go in the playroom and my mom would make my lunch and then she would drive me to school.’ Enjoy that.”
